. >> interestingly, president obama said that wasn't really mitt romney that debated last because totally different positions. well, that really couldn't have been president obama on that stage last night because this is the president obama that we know that's proud of what he does, believes with all of his heart that the tax plan that governor romney's pushing will destroy this country. none of that passion. none of the zingers. none of the come-backers were there. >> a combination of passion, upbeat, edge at the end. that issue of fairness, that's where i would have liked to see obama finish the debate last night, really get behind that. and it's the perfect issue for him against romney. it speaks to all of these other things out there without him trying to take it on directly, which he obviously doesn't feel comfortable doing right now. >> last night in the debate, we'd be talking about romney winning debate last night -- >> obama. >> i think speaking to masses is his forte. one-on-one debate he has to call upon skills of confrontation and engage at that level may not speak to his own

debates and how mitt romney has at least at times stumbled when he tried to be funny. this argument he should be himself and you followed the obama campaign and officials at the white house closely as reuters white house correspondent. >> yeah. >> what are they gearing up for? do they think they can make a gaffe out of a joke? >> it's a good question. certainly obama has shown he's not bad with humor, pretty good every year at the white house correspondents association, but i think that they're probably not focusing on humor. both sides are focusing on very strong one liners, certainly obama people are expecting mitt romney to come with some prepared lines, and the truth is, for both men, this could be a game changer and so both men are working really hard prepping for it. the obama team has made a point of saying romney has prepped more than he has but obama's leaving on sunday for two or three day debate camp in nevada. they're prepping for it very hard. whether it's humor, whether it's one liners, they want their man to have their -- his best game on. >> ben, i want to ask you this,

romney has prepped more than he has but obama's leaving on sunday for two or three day debate camp in nevada. they're prepping for it very hard. whether it's humor, whether it's one liners, they want their man to have their -- his best game on. >> ben, i want to ask you this, you don't have to mention doritos in your answer, isn't there a risk here that president obama feels like he's in the lead, like he's always been a cool, consistent speaker and he will pull back so far he might look sort of a little mellow in this debate? >> yeah. i think he's going to be -- it's a different situation. romney is going to be swinging and obama is going to be on defense. he doesn't want to screw up. >> we'll leave the word with buzz feed ben. follow this show on twitt twitter @nowwithalex for news and updates you're not going to get anywhere else. check out alex wagner on twitter. thank, jeff, joan, nicolas and ben. that is all for us. alex wagner will be back monday, noon eastern, 9:00 pacific joined by john heilemann, "the huffington post's" ryan grim and "rolling stone's" eric baits. find all